Amazon adds voice control to Alexa app for Android with iOS update on the way

Amazon is beefing up its virtual brain Alexa within the Android operating system, as it continues to battle Google and its digital assistant.

Today Amazon announced new voice control capabilities for its Alexa app on Android, bringing the experience closer to the interactions users have come to expect through the company’s lineup of smart speakers. Users will be able to ask Alexa questions and access features like music, smart home, skills, news, weather, and more.

The update will be rolled out in the coming days. A similar update is in the works for iOS and will be available soon, Amazon said.

Alexa will also be able to help people find activities or places nearby. The update shows on-screen responses with additional details for weather forecasts, movies and show times, calendar appointments and more.

The update represents of another example of Amazon’s quest to embed Alexa everywhere, even within competing operating systems. Earlier this month, news broke that Alexa would soon come to Windows PCs from HP, ASUS and Acer, bringing the digital assistance squarely into Microsoft territory.

Nat Levy is a staff reporter at Geekwire covering a variety of technology topics, including Microsoft, Amazon, tech startups, and the intersection of technology with real estate, courts and government. Contact him at nat@geekwire.com and follow him on Twitter at @natjlevy.